With Vergil not exactly on the side of the angels in the Devil May Cry season 2 ending and Dante treading his own earthbound path, you may be wondering what's next for the animated Netflix series – especially as this doesn't adapt the games in one-to-one fashion.
To guide you through the finale showdown on Makai, multiple brutal deaths, shocking family reveals, and more, we've put together a guide to the Devil May Cry season 2 ending to prove the devil really is in the details. To begin, we've got a recap of what just went down, plus the answers to all your burning, hellish questions as Devil May Cry takes a step into the unknown.
For more, check out our interview with showrunner Adi Shankar on why some video game movies might not come to fruition. Then, fill out your watchlist with our picks for the best anime on Netflix.
Devil May Cry season 2 ending recap
The finale begins by stepping back 2000 years to Mundus' greatest battle on Makai (AKA Hell). There, he fought Dante and Vergil's father Sparda in an almighty battle.
Back in the present, Mundus is made aware of Vergil's machinations on Earth – namely, his appearance on a television chat show to reveal the existence of himself and his people.
As Jester bores the court with his routine, the portal between Makai and Earth opens up in the sky. In the prior episode, Dante and Vergil both made their way through the void to stop the demon Argosax (and Arius, who has merged with the Makai lord) from wreaking havoc on Earth.
Mundus quickly confronts Argosax. While that showdown rages on, Dante and Vergil race to claim their father's sword, the only weapon capable of closing the rift for good.
Despite a cataclysmic blast from Argosax, Mundus quickly gains the upper hand. He rips Arius from his cocoon-like state in the demon and executes Argosax. With his dying breath, Arius takes pride in taking "28 lifetimes" to play god for just a moment.
In the aftermath, Vergil reveals to Mundus that he knows the truth about him ordering the death of his mother, Eva.
Despite that, Mundus preaches peace among all of Makai, including Vergil. To do so, he even treats Dante and Vergil to a history lesson about their father as well as Mundus himself, at the time a high priest in Argosax's court.
Mundus reveals that Sparda was his "most unwavering ally", but his quench for conquest turned Sparda against him. After reaching a stalemate in battle, Sparda raised the barrier between Earth and Makai. Mundus later revealed that Sparda supposedly left Eva after wanting to return to Makai.
Mundus also confirms that he had Eva killed to stop the human, nurturing influence taking hold over both of Sparda's heirs, Dante and Vergil.
Despite gaining the upper hand over Mundus' forces, Dante and Vergil – as to be expected if you've played the series – arrive at a difference in opinions. On one hand, Dante thinks they should retreat. On the other, Vergil wants to stay and rule Makai.
In the ensuing fight, Vergil gains the upper hand by stabbing Dante through the chest. He then sends Dante back through the rift, throwing him the gem from their father's sword to help close it. Vergil then battles Mundus for control of Makai.
Back on Earth, Lady wakes back up and misses her date with Dante. As martial law is declared, Lady goes on the hunt for the man who killed her mother. She later watches footage from DARKCOM HQ that shows her father transforming into Jester, DARKCOM's man on the inside in Makai.
Meanwhile, an injured Dante reminisces about his childhood as the gem from the Sword of Sparda cracks in two.
Who dies in the Devil May Cry season 2 ending?
There are two major deaths in the Devil May Cry season 2 ending.
The first sees Argosax brutally disposed of by Mundus, with the one-time demon lord of Makai beheaded by his successor. So much for those best-laid plans, eh?
The second, as you might have expected, sees Arius get his comeuppance. After literal lifetimes of trying to claim the Arcana items as his own to open the portal to hell and gain infinite power, he is ripped from Argosax by Mundus and dies.
Mercifully, Dante and Lady are still standing by the end of the season, though Vergil and Mundus's fates currently remain unclear.
Why do Dante and Vergil fight?
A war of brothers and a clash of philosophies. Over the years, Dante and Vergil have done more than trade verbal shots at each other. And so it proved again as, on the brink of fighting Mundus, the pair's fractious relationship comes to the fore.
While Dante (perhaps wisely) wants to turn tail and retreat as Mundus' power becomes apparent, Vergil is happy to stay in Makai, turning his back on humans, and insists on ruling over the hellscape.
That leads to Vergil stabbing Dante through the chest and sending him through the rift and back to Earth. There's no love lost there, certainly, but Dante's childhood flashback at least hints that the relationship can still be saved – even if they are now walking different paths.
What next for Vergil?
As of the end of season 2, Vergil is fighting Mundus for a place on Makai's throne. We won't know the victor until the third season, but the fact that even Sparda couldn't one-up the ruler suggests Vergil may have his work cut out for him. Still, his fire burns bright thanks to learning that it was Mundus who ordered the death of his mother. Expect that to be a core concern for the human/demon hybrid in future seasons if the battle isn't decisive.
The older twin brother has also declared his intentions to one day invade Earth, putting him on a future collision course with Dante.
Who is the jester?
The mysterious jester is positioned as DARKCOM's mole in Makai throughout Devil May Cry season 2. But he actually has blood ties to Lady. It is revealed that he, Arkham, killed Lady's mother and was then transformed at DARKCOM into Jester.
In a moment of startling prescience, Jester – knowing he is being recorded – tells Lady to come and meet him. We suspect that their family reunion will be just as bitter and twisted as that of Dante and Vergil's next season.
What is the significance of the gem?
In the first season, we knew the Sword of Sparda – the amulet combined with the Force Edge – held the power to open the barrier between Makai and Earth.
So, we know its physical effects, but its symbolic one may be even stronger. At the season's end, we see the purple gem split into two halves, red and blue. Coincidentally – or not, as the case may be – those are the colors most associated with Dante and Vergil respectively. The metaphor may be heavy-handed, but it's designed to show that the two have split, with their power being greater together than apart. So, now they have to make amends and play nice. That's easier said than done, mind.
Will there be a Devil May Cry season 3?
There have been unconfirmed reports that Devil May Cry season 3 is in the works, but nothing official just yet.
Showrunner Adi Shankar also told GamesRadar+ that he wants to continue making the show as well as working on original projects alongside it.
Need something else to watch after Devil May Cry? Here are the best shows on Netflix, as well as all the upcoming video game movies in the works.
